Environmental Engineering

Would you like to make this world a better place to live by focusing on the interactions between humans and the environment? You could make a difference by choosing a career in environmental engineering. In general, environmental engineers integrate and apply biological, chemical, and engineering principles to improve and sustain the environment for the protection of its ecosystems, human health, and environmentally-related enhancement of the quality of life. The discipline focuses on water and wastewater treatment system design and public health protection; traditional and emerging contaminant mitigation in water, soil, and air; ecological principles in the design process; green manufacturing; and, sustainable design. Environmental engineers will play a crucial role in numerous 21^st century challenges, including: sustainably supplying food, water, and energy; designing a future without pollution and waste; creating efficient, healthy, and resilient cities; fostering informed decisions and actions; and, curbing climate change and adapting to its impacts.[1]

The Program

Environmental engineers are professionals who have broad scientific and technical knowledge, possess strong problem-solving and design skills, and enjoy working with people. Our work is directly related to the public and environmental health and well-being, which has a significant impact on decision making and planning processes.

NDSU’s B.S. in Environmental Engineering degree program, housed in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is beginning in fall 2020. Its graduates will be sought by companies nationally at competitive salaries, and they will apply their skills in all fields of the profession domestically and abroad. The graduates will most certainly put their education to good use, bettering themselves and the world in which they live. In addition to the B.S. in Environmental Engineering, the department offers the M.S. degree in Environmental Engineering; the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Civil Engineering; and, participates in interdisciplinary graduate programs such as a Ph.D. degree in Materials and Nanotechnology, M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Natural Resources Management, M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Environmental Conservation Sciences, a Ph.D. degree in Transportation and Logistics, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biomedical Engineering. 

Mission

The mission of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is to:

1. Provide quality education to prepare nationally competitive undergraduate students for successful careers in civil and environmental engineering;
2. Provide advanced skills and knowledge in state-of-the-art research and design in sub-areas of civil and environmental engineering for graduate students; and,
3. Provide service to the university, engineering profession, and the public.

Program Educational Objectives

The program educational objectives will be consistent with the university, college, and department missions and be reflective of what is expected of the graduates of our B.S. in Environmental Engineering within a few years of graduation.

A Flexible Curriculum

First year environmental engineering students at NDSU begin their education with fundamental courses in English, chemistry, math, introduction to environmental engineering and design and analysis methods and tools, and engineering science. Second-year courses emphasize environmental engineering fundamentals, microbiological principles, graphic communications, math and statistical analyses, and engineering science courses. During the third year, students gain exposure and knowledge in sustainable design, unit operations and processes, fate and transport of pollutants, soil mechanics, environmental chemistry, ethics, water resources, physics, and three hours of technical electives. The senior year focuses on specialized courses in air pollution, solid and hazardous waste management, water and wastewater treatment and design, and hydrology; a one-year capstone senior design experiences, and six hours of technical electives. The technical electives allow the student to take additional courses in those areas of environmental  engineering/science in which she or he intends to practice professionally.

Faculty

The department has well-qualified and dedicated faculty members.  They are nationally and internationally recognized experts, with the knowledge and experience to prepare graduates for successful careers.  All faculty members in the department have a doctoral degree.  All classes are taught/assessed by full-time professors, and supplemented by lectures from leaders from the industry.

Modern, Well-Equipped Facilities

The department has excellent laboratory facilities for undergraduate education and research, including the new undergraduate laboratories for water resources and environmental engineering, laboratories, and several state-of-the-art research laboratories.

Student Organizations

Students participate in several professional departmental student organizations, which helps them develop leadership and teamwork skills. The NDSU American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the Water Environment Federation (WEF) student chapter has won 2 national design competitions. Students may also participate in a number of student organizations within the College of Engineering, including Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Society of Women Engineers (SWE), National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), and American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES).

Preparation

High school students who wish to prepare for college engineering  should attempt to complete the following high school credits: one unit of physics, four units of math, and one unit of chemistry. Nationally, incoming freshmen prepared to enroll in calculus frequently complete their environmental engineering degree in four years. Students who have studied two years of pre-engineering at another institution can normally complete the environmental engineering degree in two additional years beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering awards numerous scholarships each year, which range from $500 - $10,000. Students should check with the department for more information.